MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING

Ron Cutting was able to decide when he would die and ask for help to do it under Canada’s medical assistance in dying law, passed in June 2016.

The following May, Ontario enacted its legislation and set up a care co-ordination service, including a toll-free number, to help patients and health-care providers access information and support.

To be eligible for medical assistance in dying, a patient must be 18 or older, capable of making health-care decisions, have a grievous and irremediable medical condition, be making a voluntary request, and provide informed consent after having been told of means available to relieve their suffering, including palliative care.

Patients can request medical assistance in dying whether they are in hospital, a long-term care home, hospice or palliative care facility or in their own home. The fatal substance can be directly administered by a doctor or nurse, or prescribe it for the patient to take themselves. The drugs are provided at no cost. The health-care provider must inform the pharmacist that the prescription is intended for medical assistance in dying before it is dispensed. Clinicians who are unwilling to provide medical assistance in dying can make a referral within their network or call the care co-ordination service.

planning all the details, and Jessie is thankful Ron could have the good death he wanted.

“Death’s a part of life,” Jessie said.

“For Ron, I really wouldn’t have it any other way.”